Spring has sprung for Delta foodies

Friday

Apr 12, 2013 at 12:01 AM

As part of their spring project, students in Delta College's culinary arts restaurant operations and baking and pastry classes have to put on a Spring Fling Mixer that is a fundraiser for their department.

Jo Ann Kirby

As part of their spring project, students in Delta College's culinary arts restaurant operations and baking and pastry classes have to put on a Spring Fling Mixer that is a fundraiser for their department.

The event on Wednesday evening - complete with appetizers, desserts and wine tasting - tests not only their skills in the kitchen but their presentation, design, planning, decorating, serving, marketing and other experience vital to their would-be profession.

"We have about 40 students working on this project," Tracy Berkner, adjunct instructor at Delta, said. "They are learning how to plan and set up an event."

Berkner described the mixer as a fun social event where guests can go from station to station sampling all kinds of hors d'oeurves and more.

"There will be a raw bar where you can sample oysters on the half shell," she said. "One station will have a taco truck theme. There's a Thai station. There's an entire dessert spread being planned with homemade ice cream, chocolates, smoothies and pastries."

In addition, area vintners have been invited to pour wine, and there will be activities including a photo booth.

And while they hope participants enjoy good food and wine, those who are working the event say they are excited about the experience it provides.

"Definitely it will teach students how to serve a higher volume of people," said Michael Russ, 21, a graduate assistant who is helping with the event to keep his skills sharp. "It's a great experience to learn good time management and customer service."

But this year, she has her own station. It's a challenge she's excited to accept.

"The theme for my station is going to be Greek and Mediterranean food," she said, describing how she is developing recipes that might feature lamb chops, gyros and eggplant rollups. "We are working on our recipes now."